Link

Bc naturalist presentation 120929bk

This presentation was made to the BC Federation of Naturalists Fall General Meeting in Parksville, BC September 29th, 2012.
…

This presentation was made to the BC Federation of Naturalists Fall General Meeting in Parksville, BC September 29th, 2012.
The talk title was provided at the invitation to speak and does not fit the talk well.
Please note that this presentation does not include notes (except for 1 slide) and most slides are simply to provide a visual while I talk (ramble) and as such do not provide the full story.
Thanks to the BC Naturalists for inviting me to speak. http://www.bcnature.ca/ and the warm welcome to a serious discussion.
It is a work in progress and comments welcome.

So we are located about 30 minutes north in Deep Bay at the Southern end of Baynes Sound defined by the waters between Vancouver Island and Denman Island.Important ecological areaWhere half of all the cultured shellfish in BC occursAn area where many are choosing to move to and Increasingly under environmental stress from human pressures but actually recovering from more than a century of resource exploitation.AS I began to learn more about this system and its history I was struck by a paradox.

A paradox – archaeologists have informed us that communities of as much as 5000 people continually habitated this area for 1000’s of years.Living locally and tied to the land and sea.Put that in context today were less than 800 people live around Deep Bay unsustainably

So while large seasonal resources like salmon, herring and migratory wildfowl contributed to First Nations diet – shellfish provided the year round staple that maintained populations. While working in many coastal First Nations communities I have heard the expression “when the tide is out the table is set”Look at any kitchen midden or waste heap on the West Coast coast of North America you will find primarily clam and sometimes native oyster shells for that was the staple diet that could hold everyone over between seasonal bounties.

A 3 inch oyster filters up to 50 gallons of water a day,

And historically for us…

CO2 highest in 15 million yearsThis year more americans reported that they were beginning to believ in Climate Change – record sea ice minimums, barges stuck in the mighty mississippi river, record droughts that put 50% of US counties in “crisis: designation and of course major wildfires.Climate change is already costing $1.2-trillion (U.S.) a year and is reducing global GDP by 1.6 per cent. It is contributing to the deaths of almost 400,000 people a year. TA new report published this week titled “Climate Vulnerability Monitor: A Guide to the Cold Calculus of a Hot Planet,” is one of the first studies that delves into climate change’s effect on global gross domestic product. It was commissioned by DARA, a non-profit group that monitors aid programs, and the Climate Vulnerable Forum, and was written by more than 50 scientists, economists and policy strategists commissioned by 20 governments.

CO2 highest in 15 million yearsThis year more americans reported that they were beginning to believ in Climate Change – record sea ice minimums, barges stuck in the mighty mississippi river, record droughts that put 50% of US counties in “crisis: designation and of course major wildfires.Climate change is already costing $1.2-trillion (U.S.) a year and is reducing global GDP by 1.6 per cent. It is contributing to the deaths of almost 400,000 people a year. TA new report published this week titled “Climate Vulnerability Monitor: A Guide to the Cold Calculus of a Hot Planet,” is one of the first studies that delves into climate change’s effect on global gross domestic product. It was commissioned by DARA, a non-profit group that monitors aid programs, and the Climate Vulnerable Forum, and was written by more than 50 scientists, economists and policy strategists commissioned by 20 governments.

CO2 highest in 15 million yearsThis year more americans reported that they were beginning to believ in Climate Change – record sea ice minimums, barges stuck in the mighty mississippi river, record droughts that put 50% of US counties in “crisis: designation and of course major wildfires.Climate change is already costing $1.2-trillion (U.S.) a year and is reducing global GDP by 1.6 per cent. It is contributing to the deaths of almost 400,000 people a year. TA new report published this week titled “Climate Vulnerability Monitor: A Guide to the Cold Calculus of a Hot Planet,” is one of the first studies that delves into climate change’s effect on global gross domestic product. It was commissioned by DARA, a non-profit group that monitors aid programs, and the Climate Vulnerable Forum, and was written by more than 50 scientists, economists and policy strategists commissioned by 20 governments.

CO2 highest in 15 million yearsThis year more americans reported that they were beginning to believ in Climate Change – record sea ice minimums, barges stuck in the mighty mississippi river, record droughts that put 50% of US counties in “crisis: designation and of course major wildfires.Climate change is already costing $1.2-trillion (U.S.) a year and is reducing global GDP by 1.6 per cent. It is contributing to the deaths of almost 400,000 people a year. TA new report published this week titled “Climate Vulnerability Monitor: A Guide to the Cold Calculus of a Hot Planet,” is one of the first studies that delves into climate change’s effect on global gross domestic product. It was commissioned by DARA, a non-profit group that monitors aid programs, and the Climate Vulnerable Forum, and was written by more than 50 scientists, economists and policy strategists commissioned by 20 governments.

CO2 highest in 15 million yearsThis year more americans reported that they were beginning to believ in Climate Change – record sea ice minimums, barges stuck in the mighty mississippi river, record droughts that put 50% of US counties in “crisis: designation and of course major wildfires.Climate change is already costing $1.2-trillion (U.S.) a year and is reducing global GDP by 1.6 per cent. It is contributing to the deaths of almost 400,000 people a year. TA new report published this week titled “Climate Vulnerability Monitor: A Guide to the Cold Calculus of a Hot Planet,” is one of the first studies that delves into climate change’s effect on global gross domestic product. It was commissioned by DARA, a non-profit group that monitors aid programs, and the Climate Vulnerable Forum, and was written by more than 50 scientists, economists and policy strategists commissioned by 20 governments.

But if you are in the shellfish game, these are not the things that have us worried.

A Larger Problem25% of the CO2 we emit is absorbed by the world’s oceansOcean acidification is the gradual decrease in pH due to rising CO2.Increased acidity leads to increased mortality in calcium dependent creatures – shellfish, plankton, corals, algaeA Larger ProblemCoastalupwellingWater upwelled off coast is loaded with more CO2 than anywhere else in the world (10% higher than Atlantic).The North Pacific is at the end of a deep circulation line.It’s full of old water (cold, salty, CO2-rich, low pH).8. A Larger Problem AragoniteIncreasing acidity from CO2 lowers saturation level of aragonite. Shelled organisms need high aragonite to grow.Bivalve juveniles experience significant mortality when aragonite values decrease and their aragonite shell dissolves.

Transcript

2.
Presentation NotesThis presentation was made to the BC Federation of Naturalists Fall General Meeting in Parksville, BC September 29th, 2012.The talk title was provided at the invitation to speak and does not fit the talk well.Please note that this presentation does not include notes (except for 1 slide) and most slides are simply to provide a visual while I talk (ramble) and as such do not provide the full story.Thanks to the BC Naturalists for inviting me to speak. http://www.bcnature.ca/ and the warm welcome to a serious discussion.It is a work in progress and comments welcome.

4.
Presentation Objectives • How the coast sustained us • Role of Shellfish in the ecosystem • Global Context – the future is not going to be anything like we have seen before • Where do we go from here? Anthropology, ecology, math, chemistry, economics, but no quiz…

12.
Why do we care about shellfish? The links between industry, academia and conservation are obvious for shellfish; they indicate sustainable coastal communities. When we lose shellfish and shellfish industries, it is a sure sign that environmental degradation threatens the very essence of coastal communities with their strong sense of place and the sustainable use of its resources. Michael W. Beck, Ph.D. Senior Scientist, The Nature Conservancy, Global Marine Initiative, Letter of Support to CSR Deep Bay Oct .2008

16.
History of First Nations Shellfish Culture in BC • Clam culture practiced by First Nations for 1000’s of years • Traditional songs about building clam gardens: lo xwi we • Clam gardens (terraces) still evident in Broughton ArchipelagoPhoto Credit: Royal BC Museum / Rowan Jacobsen, THE LIVING SHORE

17.
History of First Nations Shellfish Culture in BC Clam GardenPhoto Credit: John Harper

19.
The productive value of Estuaries.…. • Where the land and fresh water meets the sea • Where the tides cover and expose • Area of immense ecological value and productivity at all trophic levels and human activities • Where shellfish play a critical role • Where humans impact.Native Oyster Reef, Nootka Sound

21.
Role of Shellfish as Ecosystem Engineers Infrastructure • Oyster reefs and sea grass provide a network of shelter for small and juvenile organisms. Food • Oysters convert algae into food that can be passed up the food chain. Nitrogen, Phosphorous & Carbon Sequestration • Oyster shells are 12% carbon

23.
Present Food Security on Vancouver Island Many estimations are that in North America on average food travels 4000km to consumer More than 90% of Food consumed on Vancouver Island comes from off-Island At any given time 3 days supply in grocery stores How is it we have lost the ability to feed ourselves? We value our environment but we transfer our environmental impact over the horizon

34.
As the pH drops affects ability to make shells Insert photo of diagram of impacts on shellfish larvaeVeliger LarvaeNative Oyster, Ostrea lurida

35.
How could we possibly affect an ocean so vast? Because in proportion really there is not that much water on the earth….. Oceans = 1.34 Billion km3 Have absorbed estimated 525 billion tonnes CO2 in last 200 years Current rate of 22 million tonnes daily. Image Source: USGS 2012 http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/earthhowmuch .html

39.
Is this the last century of wild seafood? • More than 85% of global fish stocks fully or over exploited 53% 32% 12% 3% Underexploited Underexploited or moderately exploited Fully ExploitedSource: www.twooceanssportfishing.com Overexploited, depleted or recovering Source: FAO – State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2010

40.
Global Seafood ProductionSource: FAO – State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2012

41.
How will we feed a world destined for 10B? • World requires another 23 Million MT of Seafood by 2020 - (8 Years) • Total fisheries requirement expected to exceed beef pork or chicken • Aquaculture demand = 80-100 MMT or another entire global ocean by 2030 for future population estimates. 53% 32% • FAO getting vague about what 12% happens in 2050…… 3%

42.
Is farming the seas the solution? “With earths burgeoning human populations to feed we must turn to the sea with new understanding and new technology. We must farm it as we farm the land.” Jacques Cousteau, 1973

43.
The Blue Revolution? • Fastest growing meat production sector with an annual growth rate of 6.6% expected to slow to 2.4% • At present > 50% of all fish consumed by humans from aquaculture • Cultured Seafood and aquatic plants $119 Billion/yr in 2010 • > 100 Million people globally derive income from aquaculture

44.
Shellfish – important “Non-Fed Species” Feed for “Fed Species may become critical

48.
How do we do this sustainably? (NOTES)This is a picture I took in China a few years of a scallop farm near the Korean border. It is a scallop farm that stretched to the horizon in three directions.Below each float is nets of scallops and between the floats cultured kelp. This is to the ocean what monoculture of corn is the prairie. And Ironically in thebackground that is not marine fog, It is a steady haze of air pollution from an emerging Chinese middle class and massive fossil fuel use.And what I saw there was an ecosystem at the point of collapse and when we talked with our Chinese hosts about sustainability I realized we were talkingtwo different languages and I don’t mean Chinese and English,While I was talking about the Environment I realized our hosts were talking about feeding a population. And this fundamental difference really affected me.I have made two overwhelming trips to China and after this last one I really reconsidered the way I considered myself an environmentalist. At the time wewere in Design of the Field Station and I returned extremely and profoundly discouraged, it seemed that all the good we were trying to do here was reallyjust pissing in the wind with what was happening over the horizon.But what really got me was how much of this activity was about satisfying our North American market demands and the emerging demands of a populationthat just wants to be like us and who can blame them?And so while I blithely imagine I am trying to up my sustainability game at home most of my true environmental footprint lies over the horizon in the handsof others who do not recognize the value of the ecosystem as we do. I remain troubled by this and as a result have the desire to move more of myenvironmental footprint home where I can at least have a bigger role in overseeing it, and this includes the resources that I use. In some ways this hasmade me more pro development at home and put me at odds with some traditional exclusionary environmentalism.But this picture is not all bad, when we actually got talking to the watermen who were out there working on the ocean, all they could do is complain aboutall the pollution that was coming out the rivers from upland terrestrial agriculture and I realized that the shellfish guys who were maintaining tens of millionsof individual scallop shaped swimming pool filters and growing kelp that was flourishing in a high CO2 environment , that slowly they were getting it.